A statuesque Congo supporter has emerged as an unlikely symbol of devotion at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, dressed sharply, stands motionless atop a pedestal, embodying slain independence leader Patrice Lumumba during matches.
Known online as “Lumumba Vea,” he raises his right arm and mirrors the famous Lumumba memorial statue in Kinshasa. Nkuka Mboladinga holds the pose throughout entire games, transforming the stadium crowd into a living historical stage.
“I remain still to give strength to the team and energy to the players,” he told the Associated Press in Casablanca. His silent ritual has drawn intense media attention, leaving him exhausted yet grateful for the recognition.
Nkuka Mboladinga said the tribute honours Lumumba’s sacrifice and Congo’s freedom to express itself today. Patrice Lumumba led Congo to independence from Belgium in 1960 and became the nation’s first prime minister.
He was killed within a year amid political turmoil and a Belgian-backed secession in mineral-rich Katanga. Belgium later accepted moral responsibility for his death, while US investigations revealed a separate failed CIA plot.
For many Congolese, Lumumba symbolises the hopeful future the country never fully realised after independence. Nkuka Mboladinga rehearses by standing still for nearly 50 minutes before each match, testing endurance and resolve.
As Congo reached the knockout stage, he faces longer spells of stillness during extra time and penalties. “It’s difficult when everyone dances around me, but this is my role,” he said calmly.
He has not met the players but believes they appreciate his presence and symbolic support. In a tournament defined by noise and movement, one silent figure stands tall, carrying history into the present.
